Pest Control Collection

Moles strung up on wire fence, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Gardening hints (colour litho)
8656159 Gardening hints (colour litho) by Buchanan, Fred (1879-1941); Private Collection; (add.info.: Gardening hints - grub killer. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn.

Engraving depicting an electrical vermin trap
5309335 Engraving depicting an electrical vermin trap; (add.info.: Engraving depicting an electrical vermin trap. Bait hung inside the round wire cage; vermin would touch the 'live' wire)

Engraving depicting the different methods of exterminating rats, 19th century
5308696 Engraving depicting the different methods of exterminating rats, 19th century; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the different methods of exterminating rats)

Engraving depicting a rat trap: when the bait hanging inside the trap was touched the trap is sprung, 19th century
5309331 Engraving depicting a rat trap: when the bait hanging inside the trap was touched the trap is sprung, 19th century; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a rat trap)

Farmers sack mixed grasshopper bait...Oklahoma, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Farmers sack mixed grasshopper bait for use on their farms to control the pest. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Farmers sacking grasshopper bait, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Farmers sacking grasshopper bait. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Dusting cauliflower plants near Santa Maria, California, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Dusting cauliflower plants near Santa Maria, California

Tenant farmer spreading grasshopper bait, Oklahoma, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Tenant farmer spreading grasshopper bait in his alfalfa field, five miles from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Farmers sack mixed grasshopper bait for use on their farms, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Farmers sack mixed grasshopper bait for use on their farms to control the pest. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Tenant farmer spreading grasshopper bait... 5 miles from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Tenant farmer spreading grasshopper bait in his alfalfa field, five miles from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Farm boy with sack full of boll weevils...off of cotton plants, Macon County, Georgia, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Farm boy with sack full of boll weevils which he has picked off of cotton plants. Macon County, Georgia. [Sack made from hog feed bag]

Farm boy with sack full of boll weevils...off of cotton plants, Macon County, Georgia, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Farm boy with sack full of boll weevils which he has picked off of cotton plants. Macon County, Georgia

Migrant agricultural workers home, California, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Migrant agricultural workers home. California. [Makeshift shelter built behind an advertising hoarding: Cyanogas - The Real Hopper Control']

Dusting cauliflower plants near Santa Maria, California, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Dusting cauliflower plants near Santa Maria, California

Dusting cauliflower plants near Santa Maria, California, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Dusting cauliflower plants near Santa Maria, California

Rat killer in China. 1874 (engraving)
7259218 Rat killer in China. 1874 (engraving) by Bayard, Emile Antoine (1837-91); Private Collection; (add.info.: Rat killer in China.Design by Emile Bayard 1873 ( Le Tour du Monde 1873)

Charles Lester Marlatt, three-quarter length portrait, seated, facing... between 1890 and 1910
Charles L. Marlatt, three-quarter length portrait, seated, facing slightly right, between 1890 and 1910. [Entomologist: introduced the ladybird Chilocorus similis into the United States to control

The Rat Stinker, 1632 (Etching)
7393372 The Rat Stinker, 1632 (Etching) by Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (1606-69); 14 x 12, 5 cm; Fondation Glenat, Grenoble, France; © Fonds Glenat

A Georgian rat-catcher showing some captured rats in a cage. 1831 (engraving)
7234815 A Georgian rat-catcher showing some captured rats in a cage. 1831 (engraving) by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

17th century Dutch itinerant rat-catcher with tray and rat trap. 1803 (engraving)
7233058 17th century Dutch itinerant rat-catcher with tray and rat trap. 1803 (engraving) by Deuchar, David (1743-1808); Private Collection; (add.info)

Two Terriers Ratting, c. 1805-51 (oil on panel)
7240754 Two Terriers Ratting, c.1805-51 (oil on panel) by Alken, Henry Thomas (1785-1851) (follower of); 17x24 cm; The Weston Park Foundation, Shropshire

Two Terriers trying to get at a Rat in a Trap, c. 1805-51 (oil on panel)
7240764 Two Terriers trying to get at a Rat in a Trap, c.1805-51 (oil on panel) by Alken, Henry Thomas (1785-1851) (follower of); 17x24 cm; The Weston Park Foundation, Shropshire

Two Terriers Badger Baiting, c. 1805-51 (oil on panel)
7240759 Two Terriers Badger Baiting, c.1805-51 (oil on panel) by Alken, Henry Thomas (1785-1851) (follower of); 17x24 cm; The Weston Park Foundation, Shropshire

Advertisement for Keatings insecticide powder (colour litho)
7172833 Advertisement for Keatings insecticide powder (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Advertisement for Keatings insecticide powder)

The Apostate Jack Robinson, the Political Rat-Catcher, satire on corruption in the British general election campaign of
7148319 The Apostate Jack Robinson, the Political Rat-Catcher, satire on corruption in the British general election campaign of 1784 (engraving) by Rowlandson

Eagle Owl and Cat with Dead Rats
BAL37942 Eagle Owl and Cat with Dead Rats by Roos, Johann Heinrich (1631-85); Rafael Valls Gallery, London, UK; German, out of copyright

Clever mouse avoiding a mousetrap (colour litho)
5996105 Clever mouse avoiding a mousetrap (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Clever mouse avoiding a mousetrap)

The Ratcatchers Polka and the Donkeys Galop (colour litho)
3639789 The Ratcatchers Polka and the Donkeys Galop (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Ratcatchers Polka and The Donkeys Galop)

Newspaper seller and rat-catcher, 1845 (coloured engraving)
977738 Newspaper seller and rat-catcher, 1845 (coloured engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Newspaper seller and rat-catcher, 1845)

Rat catcher with his dog (colour litho)
5236298 Rat catcher with his dog (colour litho) by King, Edward R. (active 1883-1924); Private Collection; (add.info.: Rat catcher with his dog. Postcard.); Look and Learn / Peter Jackson Collection

A Capital Cure for Rats (colour litho)
5995920 A Capital Cure for Rats (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Capital Cure for Rats)

Rat catcher (engraving)
602237 Rat catcher (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Rat catcher, depicting a man wearing a top hat and carrying a cage)

The Rat Plague in the Country (engraving)
1047052 The Rat Plague in the Country (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Rat Plague in the Country)

Man hunting for fleas in his bed (chromolitho)
6032021 Man hunting for fleas in his bed (chromolitho) by Browne, Tom (1872-1910); Private Collection; (add.info.: Man hunting for fleas in his bed)

The Mouse-Trap Man (litho)
3638968 The Mouse-Trap Man (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Mouse-Trap Man. Sung by George Leybourne)

American settlers throwing sticks at grey squirrels in trees, 18th century
6337365 American settlers throwing sticks at grey squirrels in trees, 18th century by English School, (19th century); (add.info.: American settlers throwing sticks at grey squirrels in trees)

The Rat-catchers of the Sewers (engraving)
587112 The Rat-catchers of the Sewers (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: London Labour and the London Poor)

Brusher Mills, snake catcher of the New Forest (photo)
5999841 Brusher Mills, snake catcher of the New Forest (photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Brusher Mills (1840-1905), snake catcher of the New Forest

The rats (chromolitho)
1093231 The rats (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The rats. Scene from the Pied Piper of Hamelin. Liebig educational card.); © Look and Learn

Pigeons in danger of a slip up. A bid to clean up part of Leicester around the Lloyds Bank Building in the High Street, Leicester

A helicopter sprays insecticide in an attempt to kill off sand hoppers, on Worthing beach. Women from Worthing Swimming Club were amazed to see the helicopter. West Sussex. 24th April 1952

Girls of the Womens Land Army (Pests Department) are emplyed in S. Wales as rat catchers. Girls counting the days " bag". March 1944 P000644

War on the rats. The rat war is now in full swing and to date over half a million rats
War on the rats.The rat war is now in full swing and to date over half a million rats have been killed since the campaign started in November

War on the rats Dean December 20th 1943: The rat war is now in full swing
War on the rats.. Dean December 20th 1943: The rat war is now in full swing and to date over half a million rats have been killed since the campaign started in November

Head of a Rat Catcher, 17th century. Creator: Unknown
Head of a Rat Catcher, 17th century

The Rat Catcher, second half 18th century. Creator: James Bretherton
The Rat Catcher, second half 18th century. After Rembrandt

Les Taupes, 1854. Creator: Felix Bracquemond
Les Taupes, 1854

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"Pest Control: A Historical Glimpse into the Battle against Vermin" From moles strung up on wire fences to clever mice avoiding mousetraps, it has been an ongoing challenge throughout history. In England, United Kingdom, and across Europe, various methods have been employed to combat these unwanted intruders. Dating back to 1632, "The Rat Stinker" etching portrays the determination of individuals in eradicating rats. Similarly, a Georgian rat-catcher proudly displays his captured prey in a cage in an engraving from 1831. Even as far back as the 17th century Dutch era, itinerant rat-catchers roamed the streets with trays and traps to catch these pesky creatures. Artistic depictions also shed light on how animals were involved in pest control efforts. "Two Terriers Ratting, " painted between 1805-51, showcases two terriers diligently hunting down rats while another painting depicts their relentless pursuit of a trapped rodent. Furthermore, badger baiting was not only seen as entertainment but also served as a means of controlling vermin during this period. Interestingly enough, even humans resorted to unconventional measures for survival. An engraving illustrates a debtor catching mice for sustenance - highlighting the dire circumstances that led people to take extreme measures against pests. Commercial products aimed at extermination gained popularity over time too. An advertisement for Keatings insecticide powder demonstrates how society sought effective solutions beyond traditional methods like trapping or hunting rodents. Satirical engravings such as "The Apostate Jack Robinson" reveal that pest control extended beyond physical creatures; it symbolized corruption within political campaigns during Britain's general election campaign of 1784. However, nature itself played its part in maintaining balance. The image of an eagle owl alongside a cat with dead rats indicates how certain predators assisted humans by naturally reducing vermin populations. In this battle against pests, one cannot underestimate the intelligence of these creatures.